Sophomore has yet to give up a score in three games

EVANSVILLE - Jackie Lohmann is such a perfectionist that she has to practice before she practices.

Take the dives she has to make as the goalkeeper for the University of Southern Indiana women's soccer team. During a workout in which coach Krissy Engelbrecht fires the ball at the goalie, Lohmann has to figure out which direction the ball is headed in order stop it from going into the net.

But before they begin, Lohmann has to get her dives just right.

"No, that wasn't quite right," she said during one practice. "Let me try again."

So she got up and dived in the same direction.

Still not right. So she did it again. And again. And again.

Keep in mind that Engelbrecht had yet to throw the ball.

"She had to do about a hundred dives before we could start training," said the coach with a laugh.

It sounds like a curse, but it may be a blessing. It probably goes a long way in explaining why the sophomore has not only been USI's starting goalkeeper since her freshman year but why she has played almost every minute of every game since arriving on the West Side from her home in Owensboro, Ky.

Even Lohmann had to admit that she may be better in 2013 than she was in 2012. "I think I came in with a little more confidence this year," she said.

Lohmann had plenty of time to get confident last year.

Playing all 1,640 minutes, 57 seconds of last season, she faced 219 shots, gave up 26 goals (for a goals-against average of 1.43), made 26 saves and totaled six shutouts.

Over the first three games this year she has yet to give up a goal and has five saves in 225 minutes for the Screaming Eagles, who are 3-0-0.

Ever the perfectionist, she continues to work on her game — "stepping to the ball when you're diving, my footwork, judging high balls," she said.

Those last are shots that may sail over her head into the net. Or they may hit the crossbar or even sail over the crossbar. It's probably more difficult for Lohmann, who stands just 5-foot-7. But she has another theory.

"I think it's tougher for girls than for boys to do that," she said. "My dad said maybe it's because boys have dads who take them out and play ball with them so they learn how to judge high balls better."

Her father didn't neglect her, however. She said George Lohmann never, ever has discouraged her. "He'll do anything for me."

For example, when she was playing club soccer in Louisville, Ky., he would drive her to and from practice — a total of four hours on the road.

"He never, ever said anything negative," she said.

That may help explain her success in goal.

"I think the biggest thing about her when she plays is she's a very confident person," said Engelbrecht. "She just has great presence in goal; she holds herself high. She doesn't get rattled during a game, and she plays with her natural instincts."

She also trusts USI's defenders. The back four of junior Rachael Mayse, sophomores McKinsey Durham and Emily Cummings and freshman Gabby Korte don't talk much, said Engelbrecht, "but when they do, people listen."

Lohmann insists her success is tied to them.

"When you talk to me about shutouts and goals-against average, I have to talk about my defense because they play a major role in my (personal) goals," she said.

But when the ball gets past them, Lohmann intends to make sure it's going to have a hard time finding the back of the net.

"She doesn't want to give up a goal ever," said Engelbrecht, "even when she gets shot on 30 times in training."